Blogs from South America - page 5357

Sat Feb 19 I feel terrible that I haven’t done a very good job staying in touch with everybody. The internet guy WAS here and left a note, but of course no one was home, and then we stayed home till 6:30 last night, and he didn’t come. I did go down to the shelter this morning to use their computer, but the internet connection wasn’t working. It’s just awful because we really have no idea when he is coming. He just comes when he gets around to it. If you think waiting from 9-12 or 2-5 for the cable guy is bad…..and it bothers me the most because I think of you all the time and I can’t read my email from you. Tomorrow Thijs is buying a second computer for the school, and ... read more

Strange spending so much time so high, altitudinaly that is, when the highest real estate in Oz, Mt. Kosiusko, is only 2,200 metres or so (I think) and here in San Pedro de Atacama it’s already 2,440 and everywhere else around here is higher. Breathing is always a little laboured but with a mouthful of coca it gets easier! Did a few look-arounds of San Pedro, they really draw a long bow with some of the “famous” features, crikey, but the general scenery is soo fantastic that you can overlook the overblown toury spots general shortcomings. Valley of the Dead, Dry Lake, Green Lake…and, in the Valley of the Moon, the Turtle’s Head that iconic, Incan outcrop, dedicated to the god of constipation. While we’re there, much as the Valley of the Moon was modestly awesome, ... read more

I arrived to Salvador, and took a taxi to the hostel. When I told the taxi driver the address, in San Anotnio region, he was a little bit surprised. I asked him if it´s a good hostel, and he said 'more or less'. At this point I started to worry. The neighborhood looked pretty scary to me - some ruined houses, and the hostel itself didn't look to well. But after checking in, I relaxed because the hostel was run by Israelis, and it was like 'Migdal Bavel' over there - people from all around the world - Australian, Canadian, German, British and of course Israelis. It was really interesting to talk with them. Later Rafael (a friend who lives in Salvador, whom I met later in Moro De Sau Paulo), told me that I was ... read more

After the traumatic journey to Rio, with countless layovers and a slight losing of my way in Houston airport leading to passing through security twice... I finally arrived in Copacabana beach in Rio. The Mellow Yellow hostel is fantastic, 5 floors of fun (the stairs are a killer) with loads of great people. The first night had a pub quiz, which my team (all Brits, Katy, Rachel and Terry the hostel owner) did not do to well at, the highest score was less than 20 out of 40 though, followed by a search for a salsa club which ended quickly when we found a gay club with a Cher act. What more could you want after 24 hours of travelling?? Day 2 was sight seeing, the views from Sugar Loaf are amazing, this is a really ... read more

there is really not an effective way to completely describe or capture the emansive and enormous barreling river of ice known as the perito moreno glacier. it commands respect. it's unbelievable big. imagine a tsunami's amount of fresh, chillingly cold, glacier water, thrusting with unparalleled power down from some of the highest and imposing peaks in the world...and then, with the snap of a finder, it gets suspended and froozen in its path - an invisible shield holding the glacier and all its power from crushing into the valley and lake below. that is the feeling when you look up at perito moreno. the thing is...it's not really stopped. anyone who spends more than 5 minutes jaw gazing at the perito moreno will have the opportunity to hear the huge thunder-like claps of the glacier moving. ... read more